Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-30

Nc more unique, distinctive, and at the
same time popular character stands before
the people to-day than Ellis Wheeler
Wilcox.
Born in 8 Wisconsin villsge some thirty
odd years ago, when Wisconsin was not
much more than frontier state, without
Influential friends or family, and without
money, she made for herself name in
literature which commanded attention
before she WAS eighteen years old. To
one who knows it in detail her history
reads ike fairy story. Reared on g
western prairie, she is an ornament to
the most brilliant circles OF the metrop-
oils
She had never seen an editor or literary
person and knew nothing Of the methods
of getting into print when, at fourteen,
she read her first production to the press.
TIE New York Mercury published these
childish efforts which were written in
prose and under nom de-plumes.
It declined the first poem che ever sent
for publication, and the editor sarcastic
ally advised her to "crush her ambitions
to be poet"
The Wsverly Magazine has the honor
10 be the first 10 present the name Of Ella
Wheeler to the public.
Frank Leslie sent her the first check
she ever received at seventeen years of
age.
From that time 10 the present day she
has never sweryed nor ialtered in the
steady, hard climb towsrd success.
She never sent MANUSCRIPT II her life
for criticism ard never asked for aid or
influence in her literary ventures.
During the last fifteen years Ella
Wheeler has probably been the most crit
icised, abused, praised, mieconstrued and
admired woman in the literary world.
Without particle of effort to cIeate 6
sensation, everything she has in that
time written has had the effect of stirring
up criticism.
Her wri ing5 seem to be possessed of a
certain something combustible In their
composition, that on striking outer cir
invariably rends it with more or less Of
an explosion.
Her first published book wss "Drops OF
Water collection of juvenile temper
ance verses. These were crude but flied
with the dramatic enthusiasm which has so
permeated her later work, snd provoked
praise and censure in proportionate guam
fities from the contending forces on the
liquor question.
"Shells," little volume now out OF
print, comes next.
"Maurinpe," by many considered her
finest work, and the famous Poems of
Passion which set the literary world on
fire, followed within three years of each
other.
Columns of abuse and praise Items rid
iculirg and eulOeizing the latter volume
filled ali the papers in the country.
Some of her friends urged her TO sup
press the book after its first appearance,
nut strong in the courage Of her convic-
tons, she read the severe and upjust re-
views through teaTa, not unmiXed with
smiles at sight of the golden coins which
puoctusted the comments of the critics.
Many of these dollars were spent ir
building q hcme for aging parents, and
much of the halo now surrounding this
remarkable womsn's life is the reflection
of the generous deeds Of her esrly monie6
life.
Milwaukee people gave her "heneft'
IN MeY,1883, when she was made the sIb-
jet OF speech by United States Sena
Tor and was presented with china basket
containing $500 in gold.
Long before her happy marriage in MAY
1884, with the elegant and cultivated gen.
tlemsn who brought her to the east. b !
neme was 9 household word and she W
W leone guest In the best circles of toe
gres northeast.
| To her rare genius were added unusua
grac-s OF Prison. She WIS tr llian,
and tactful talaer, q good dancer, and .